Table top catch for gas ranges



Aug. 27, 1935. J.- w RK R 2,012,864

TABLE TOP CATCH FOR GAS RANGES Filed June 29, 1934 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT-"OFFICE 2,012,864 ,TABLE TOP CATCH FORGAS RANGES Jesse W. Barker, Geneva, N. Y.

Application June 29, 1934, Serial No. 733,093

2 Claims.

My invention relates to gas ranges and'more particularly to means for holding the top thereof in open position.

The principal object of the invention is to proback of the range, for holding the top firmly in open position, whereby the top can be lowered to closed position from the front of the stove without the necessity of touching the holding means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through the rear upper part of a table top gas range showing the catch assembly of the invention at-' tached to the rear wall of the range and its top portion;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l with the catch assembly in looking position;

Figure 3 is a plan elevation of the hook mem: ber of the assembly mounted on the rear wall of the range;

Figure 4 is a plan elevation of the beveled catch plate;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I denotes a conventional table top gas range comprising a cooking top frame 2 and rear and side walls 3, only the rear wall of which is shown. A lift up table top 4, of usual construction, is pivotally connected to the frame 2 by hinges 5, one leaf of the hinges being secured to the bottom face of the table top a considerable distance from the rear end of the latter and the other leaf being secured to the frame 2. When the table top is in elevated position the rear edge of the overhanging rear portion 6, of the table top 4, is adapted to engage a catch assembly, about to be described.

The catch assembly comprises a base I formed with wing portions 8 and 9, which lie flat against the rear wall 3 and are secured thereto by bolts I0 and nuts I I. A hook shaped catch or looking member I2 is mounted at its inner end for limited pivotal movement, upon a pivot pin I3, extending between a pair of rearwardly projecting apertured ears or lugs I4. This catch member is normally pressed to the position illustrated in Figure 2, by means of an angularly bent leaf spring I5, which is fastened to a centrally raised portion I6 of the base, a bolt I1 and nut I8 being employed for this purpose. The wing 8 of the base is slightly longer than its companion wing 9, to provide an extension I9, against which the table top abuts when in raised position. 7

The rear edge 20 of the overhanging rear portion 6, of the table top has a beveled plate 2| secured thereto by means of screws 22. This plate engages the beveled or rounded face 23 of the pivoted catch member I2 and forces the member I2 in a downwardly or anti-clockwise direction, against the tension of leaf spring I5, which spring bears against and normally tends to force the catch member in an opposite direction. When the beveled face of plate 2I rides clear of the beveled or rounded face or edge 23, the straight shouldered or hooked portion 24 of the catch member will automatically engage behind the straight rear edge 25 of the beveled plate 2 I, thus securely latching the table top in elevated position. In order to close the table top, it is merely necessary for the housewife to exert a slight pulling pressure, upon the table top thus forcing the catch member I2 downwardly against the tension of spring I5 until the plate 2| rides clear of the shoulder 24. This unlocking operation which can be effected from the front of the range without the necessity of reaching behind the range to disengage the catch, is made possible by positioning the pivot pin I3 for the catch member I2 so that said pin is located to the right of the hooked portion 24 of member I2 and below said portion, when said catch member is in locking position. Due to this arrangement any stress exerted upon member I2 by pulling the table top toward the front effects a pivotal downward movement of member I2 and a pivotal upward movement of plate 2| and consequently unlocking of the table top. If desired the unlocking operation can be made easier by slightly inclining the straight shoulder portion 24 of the member I2 upwardly and outwardly, see Figure 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination of a gas range embodying a table top hinged with its bottom wall to the rear wall of said range close to the upper edge thereof and a substantial distance from the rear edge of said table top, with a catch assembly embodying a base plate mounted on the rear wall of said range, a hook member having its rear end pivotally secured to said base plate and yieldingly held in predetermined position by a spring mounted upon said base plate, and a locking plate secured to the rear edge of said table top said looking plate when moved together with said table toptbeing adapted to pivotally shift said hookshaped member against the tension of said spring and interlock with the hooked end of said locking member, and the locking face of said hook memher being arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the top wall of said table top, when said table top is in open position and in interlocking engagement with said locking plate to permit of automatic release of said locking plate when 10 an operator exerts a slight pull on the locked table top thereby efiecting pivotal movements of said locking plate and hook member in opposite directions.

2-. The combination of a gas range with a catch assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the hook member is pivotally secured at one end to the base plate and provided near its other end with a straight shouldered slightly upwardly and outwardlyinclined portion.

JESSE W. BARKER. 

